Park District Lands $200,000 State Grant

PALATINE — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has awarded the Palatine Park District a $200,000 state grant for improvements at Towne Square, including construction of walkways and a gazebo.

The park district board, Village Council, Palatine Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Association have all approved plans for the renovations at the northeast corner of Palatine Road and South Street, parks Executive Director Fred Hall said at a park board meeting Tuesday night.

According to Hall, the 1.6-acre property was owned by Household Bank, and residents feared that it would be sold to developers who would put up a shopping plaza.

Towne Square was purchased by the Palatine Park District Foundation from Household Bank in 1995, and then bought by the Palatine Park District and the Village of Palatine in March 1996, shortly after the district received a $200,000 state grant to cover half the purchase price.

The park district got word of the grant in December. Hall said that construction on the parcel could start late this summer.

In other action at its Tuesday night meeting, the park board unanimously approved a motion to raise the monthly boarding rates at the Palatine Park Stables for 1998.

Residents who keep their horses in what the district calls the upper barn will now pay $380 per month, a $20 increase from the previous fee of $360 a month. Non-residents will pay $420, up from $390.

Monthly rates for the lower barn were raised from $420 for both residents and non-residents to $435 and $445, respectively.

Some board members said the increases would help the stable to maintain a profit margin.